Mason Mount joined Manchester United in the summer of 2023, but eyebrows were raised after the Red Devils paid nearly £60 million to sign him.
The Englishman left his boyhood club Chelsea for Old Trafford, but his time in the North West was not worth his huge price tag.
He has made 54 appearances in all competitions, scoring just five times, his most recent goal coming against Sunderland in the Premier League.
However, the 26-year-old has been plagued by injuries in recent years and has failed to make more than 20 league appearances in either of his two full seasons with Manchester City.
It remains to be seen what level he will be able to reach at the Theater of Dreams, but some of his struggles in previous seasons can be attributed to the pressure coming from being a number seven.
United’s best 7th place in the Premier League era
United’s No. 7 shirt has become something of a curse in recent years, with many players struggling to live up to expectations.
Players like Angel Di Maria, Michael Owen and Alexis Sanchez have failed to impress despite wearing the number, but that wasn’t always the case.
Eric Cantona was an iconic figure at Old Trafford, but it wasn’t just his performances with the ball that sparked a lot of buzz from his spell with the Red Devils.
The Frenchman was known for his infamous king-fu kicks against supporters, which led to a hefty suspension, but he still managed to rack up incredible numbers during his seven-year spell at the club.
He scored 82 goals in 185 appearances for Manchester, and is arguably one of the best players to wear the No. 7 shirt for the Red Devils.
However, he failed to reach the level that Cristiano Ronaldo produced, with the Portugal international exceeding everyone’s expectations at United.
He arrived as an unknown to many supporters in 2003, but went on to make over 340 appearances over two separate spells at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo also won the Ballon d’Or during his first stint at the club, highlighting the quality he possessed and even became known as CR7 as a result of his stay in Manchester.
However, the most iconic player to wear such a shirt at the Theater of Dreams is undoubtedly David Beckham, with the British player consistently associated with such shirts throughout his career.
The midfielder from the club’s academy has become more than just a footballer and Beckham is now a celebrity around the world.
From attacking from the halfway line to incredible free-kicks, he truly managed to produce everything for the Red Devils and truly hoped that other stars could repeat such feats in the future.
United star who can steal number 7 from Mount
United bosses backed manager Ruben Amorim during the summer transfer window in a bid to help the club’s chances of success beyond the 2025/26 season.
The 40-year-old has spent more than £200m on new players within the final third in a bid to give his first-team squad a new and impressive attacking department.
Brian Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesco all arrived at Old Trafford, but none were able to snatch the iconic number seven shirt from Mount.
However, British players still wear such shirts, but with the emergence of academy star Shea Lacey, things may change in a few years.
The 18-year-old forward has a big future ahead of him, but has already shown glimpses of his quality at youth level for the Red Devils in recent seasons.
Shay Lacey – Manchester United statistics at youth level | |||
|---|---|---|---|
competition | game | the goal | assist |
U18 Premier League | 33 | 9 | 7 |
UEFA Youth League | 4 | 0 | 0 |
FA Youth Cup | 3 | 0 | 2 |
total: | 40 | 9 | 9 |
Statistics via Transfermarkt | |||
Last season, he played 13 times in all competitions and scored just twice, but he has already equaled this record in the first three games of the 2025/26 season.
Described as “incredible” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Lacey is a left-footed forward who prefers cutting down the right flank with his favored foot. Really impressive qualities could make him a big threat.
He has shown ball-carrying skills in the past, stepping up from his last injury absence and possessing the fearlessness that United often lack in the final third.
The winger’s highlights in recent months have shown the natural ability he possesses, but it is vital that he is managed in the right way to reach his full potential.
A number of young academy prospects have recently established themselves in United’s first team, but given his recent struggles on the pitch, it’s important Lacey steps into the spotlight at the right time.
But he has all the tools to thrive in England’s top flight for years to come, and the youngster has all the tools to potentially take the number seven off Mount’s back.
